Post by TRIPWIRE on Apr 5, 2006 23:18:16 GMT -5
April 6, 2006
Put the "Mini" back in my Minivan!
Written by David M. Hickerson
Originally Posted at tripwire.hickersonfamily.net/2006_0406.html
Have you ever hit a car lot and not been able to find something that suits your needs "just right?"
That's how I've felt on many occasions when window-shopping the various local car lots. I would find lots of cars that I like but none that I'd say fit "like a glove." Well, that was until we found the 2006 Mazda5 [1]. Yeah, there are more glamorous cars, but how many can you find that seat six comfortably, is only marginally larger than a Chevrolet Cobalt, has a base MSRP of just under 18,000$, and all while getting between 22-26 miles per gallon?
If you live in the United States and are buying a 2006 model, I'll send the first person to find a single one 10$ via paypal. The Dodge Caravan SE is the only one I can find that comes close, but it is still more expensive by about 1,000$, has a less powerful engine, and weighs 500 pounds more (although, the Caravan will actually seat a seventh small-ish passenger -- gotta give it credit where due I guess).
While I enjoy owning a vehicle that is unique, I would like to understand why more Mazda5-esque vehicles aren't being sold here. I realize that there are loads of people who simply can't do without their SUVs and not-so-mini minivans, but there is a market for these smaller people-movers that many companies are simply missing out on. There are a lot of people who buy less efficient, used vehicles simply because they can't afford to keep one of the many 30,000$-plus vans or SUVs in their driveway, but vehicles like our Mazda5 [2], the Toyota Verso [3], the Vauxhall Zafira [4], or the peculiar Honda FR-V [5] would fit well in many more "family-sized" budgets, and they all sell like hotcakes in Europe, so why not here?
Okay, okay. So none of those will with any races (although the Zafira does have a turbocharged "VXR" version that'll do zero-to-sixty in just over seven seconds) or beauty contests (not that I think they're ugly), but if easy parking, good fuel mileage, and low purchase price are the priorities, families are going to look seriously at these as alternatives to vans like the Honda Odyssey or Nassan Quest that, while comfortable, are huge and expensive. If only one company offers them, only one company will profit from them.
Are they listening? Please bring back the "mini" in minivans!
References:
1. www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=modelsMain&vehicleCode=MZ5
2. www.hickersonfamily.net/family/david/cars/mazda5_firstweek.html
3. www.whatcar.co.uk/car-review-full.aspx?RT=756
4. www.whatcar.co.uk/car-review-full.aspx?RT=733
5. www.whatcar.co.uk/car-review-full.aspx?RT=685
Put the "Mini" back in my Minivan!
Written by David M. Hickerson
Originally Posted at tripwire.hickersonfamily.net/2006_0406.html
Have you ever hit a car lot and not been able to find something that suits your needs "just right?"
That's how I've felt on many occasions when window-shopping the various local car lots. I would find lots of cars that I like but none that I'd say fit "like a glove." Well, that was until we found the 2006 Mazda5 [1]. Yeah, there are more glamorous cars, but how many can you find that seat six comfortably, is only marginally larger than a Chevrolet Cobalt, has a base MSRP of just under 18,000$, and all while getting between 22-26 miles per gallon?
If you live in the United States and are buying a 2006 model, I'll send the first person to find a single one 10$ via paypal. The Dodge Caravan SE is the only one I can find that comes close, but it is still more expensive by about 1,000$, has a less powerful engine, and weighs 500 pounds more (although, the Caravan will actually seat a seventh small-ish passenger -- gotta give it credit where due I guess).
While I enjoy owning a vehicle that is unique, I would like to understand why more Mazda5-esque vehicles aren't being sold here. I realize that there are loads of people who simply can't do without their SUVs and not-so-mini minivans, but there is a market for these smaller people-movers that many companies are simply missing out on. There are a lot of people who buy less efficient, used vehicles simply because they can't afford to keep one of the many 30,000$-plus vans or SUVs in their driveway, but vehicles like our Mazda5 [2], the Toyota Verso [3], the Vauxhall Zafira [4], or the peculiar Honda FR-V [5] would fit well in many more "family-sized" budgets, and they all sell like hotcakes in Europe, so why not here?
Okay, okay. So none of those will with any races (although the Zafira does have a turbocharged "VXR" version that'll do zero-to-sixty in just over seven seconds) or beauty contests (not that I think they're ugly), but if easy parking, good fuel mileage, and low purchase price are the priorities, families are going to look seriously at these as alternatives to vans like the Honda Odyssey or Nassan Quest that, while comfortable, are huge and expensive. If only one company offers them, only one company will profit from them.
Are they listening? Please bring back the "mini" in minivans!
References:
1. www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=modelsMain&vehicleCode=MZ5
2. www.hickersonfamily.net/family/david/cars/mazda5_firstweek.html
3. www.whatcar.co.uk/car-review-full.aspx?RT=756
4. www.whatcar.co.uk/car-review-full.aspx?RT=733
5. www.whatcar.co.uk/car-review-full.aspx?RT=685